Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. v Cadbury UK Limited

Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. v Cadbury UK Limited

The '361 mark fails because its description is ambiguous and allows for a multitude of forms, lacking the required specificity and clarity for registration as a sign. The '822 (Libertel form) mark succeeds because a colour per se, defined by Pantone, is conceptually a single sign and does not suffer from the ambiguity or multitude of forms that afflicted the rejected marks.

Parties
Opponent/respondent: Société des Produits Nestlé S. A.; Applicant/appellant: Cadbury UK Limited; Intervener: The Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
05 July 2022
Procedural Posture
Trade Mark Opposition Appeal / Appeal From Hearing Officer's Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed in part; '822 mark succeeds, '361 mark fails.
Legal Topics
Trade Marks, Colour Marks, Graphical Representation, Distinctiveness, Registration Requirements
Intellectual Property Law Trade Marks Colour Marks Graphical Representation Distinctiveness Registration Requirements

Case Brief

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Parties

Société des Produits Nestlé S. A.

Opponent/respondent

Cadbury UK Limited

Applicant/appellant

The Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Trade Mark Opposition Appeal / Appeal From Hearing Officer's Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trade mark applications for the colour purple by Cadbury satisfy the requirements of a 'sign' under s. 1(1) and s. 3(1)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1994
  2. 2 Whether the marks avoid the 'multitude of forms' objection identified in prior case law
  3. 3 Whether a colour per se (Libertel form) mark is capable of registration

Ratio Decidendi

The '361 mark fails because its description is ambiguous and allows for a multitude of forms, lacking the required specificity and clarity for registration as a sign. The '822 (Libertel form) mark succeeds because a colour per se, defined by Pantone, is conceptually a single sign and does not suffer from the ambiguity or multitude of forms that afflicted the rejected marks.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed in part; '822 mark succeeds, '361 mark fails.

Orders

  • The appeal succeeds in relation to the '822 mark and fails in relation to the '361 mark.